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Not eating after dental surgery

Still very sleepy and fed up with himself, but we’ve washed his wound out a couple of times so nice and clean so far. Hes got plenty of water and 15ml CC … plus all his drugs and probiotics… Taking all his medicine like a good boy 🤞🏻 It’s a bit stinky but I’m guessing thats normal?
Oh also he’s been eating a little grass and hay by hand, just hoping he starts to pick it up himself so we can have a rest lol!
 
Spoke too soon, after his antibiotics he’s really not bothered about food or hay or grass. Struggling to poop too, even though we’re getting CC into him and water. They seem really dry. He saves them all up and has a massive poop session. Desperately trying to help him but we’re so exhausted.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
The first day after an op is always the hardest. Just keep syringing little and often and hopefully tomorrow he’ll feel much better. When is he back at vets?
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Not sure yet we need to sort out a day. How on earth do you do this over and over for more piggies. I admire you so much! ❤️ Where can we make a donation to TEAS?

Also what’s your experience in piggie abscesses, have you had this happen before where they just won’t eat by themselves? We’ve got to go back to work tomorrow, luckily we WFH but it’s going to be a struggle to balance. Really hoped he would be eating by himself now. No idea if it’s still pain, new antibiotic side effects, constipation… definitely not teeth now as Simon said they were perfect.
 
piggydobz said:
Not sure yet we need to sort out a day. How on earth do you do this over and over for more piggies. I admire you so much! ❤️ Where can we make a donation to TEAS?

Also what’s your experience in piggie abscesses, have you had this happen before where they just won’t eat by themselves? We’ve got to go back to work tomorrow, luckily we WFH but it’s going to be a struggle to balance. Really hoped he would be eating by himself now. No idea if it’s still pain, new antibiotic side effects, constipation… definitely not teeth now as Simon said they were perfect.
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Thank you! I will send you the bank and paypal details by private message 🙂

It is quite normal for them to be reluctant to eat much after having abscess surgery. They will be some discomfort and also his jaw will feel very different. When I have a piggy who isn't eating, I leave them with an 'all you can eat buffet'. I put softened nuggets, Critical Care, Baby Food, Porridge oats, etc on plates, throughout the cage. Picked grass is usually one of the first things that they want to eat. I also cut all veggies into tiny pieces, so they are easier to pick up. Please don't be despondant, it's still early days.
 
yes, do hang in there, you now know what the problem is and once the AB’s start healing that nasty abscess everything will look much better for your little piggie x If you can give him a few syringe feeds as he in a bit if pain after the op but if the teeth are ok then that’s really good news x
 
Thanks both. It’s so hard to know if we’re doing the right thing, he just looks so miserable.
 
piggydobz said:
He’s getting 5-15ml each hour or so, however much he’ll take so he’s probably had about 45ml so far with a few more feeds to go.
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That's good! Once he's starting to feel a bit better you will be able to get around 20-30 mls in per sitting, so you can then go to about three feeds a day. Please don't try and do night feeds. When a piggy isn't eating well I do a late feed, around 11pm and then an early morning one around 5.30 am. You need to get your sleep.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
That's good! Once he's starting to feel a bit better you will be able to get around 20-30 mls in per sitting, so you can then go to about three feeds a day. Please don't try and do night feeds. When a piggy isn't eating well I do a late feed, around 11pm and then an early morning one around 5.30 am. You need to get your sleep.
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We’re flushing his wound out like the nurse showed us, but not seeing any pus or debris? Is that right, as I thought stuff was meant to come out. Or is that only precaution to keep on top of and it was all removed in surgery? I’ve tried squeezing the skin and wiping it out as best we can but nothings really coming out. its still stinky though. Not sure if we’re doing it right…
 
piggydobz said:
We’re flushing his wound out like the nurse showed us, but not seeing any pus or debris? Is that right, as I thought stuff was meant to come out. Or is that only precaution to keep on top of and it was all removed in surgery? I’ve tried squeezing the skin and wiping it out as best we can but nothings really coming out. its still stinky though. Not sure if we’re doing it right…
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This is all sounding very normal. Make sure you pull off any scab that forms. I use the flat cotton wool pads for cleaning abscesses.

I’d look at getting him rechecked at vets, towards end of week. They can then make sure there aren’t any hidden pockets of pus forming.

For information- I provide boarding, through my pet care business, for long distance clients of the Cat and Rabbit Clinic.
 
Debbie great with abscesses, post ops and anything dental. My Ted boarded with her for 3 months in lockdown so he could get his dental treatment from Simon. My Ginger had a cyst removed under GA and Debbie looked after her for a week while we visited relatives up north, her knowledge and care is second to none x
 
Here is his poorly wound. We’ve been syringing regularly but no pus or blood is coming out. Bit worried we’re not doing it right? How deep are we supposed to be going? We have a dental syringe and poking it right in there and I’m massaging it about but not seeing anything come out.
 

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I’m always given a large syringe with a needle attached but it sounds like you’re just using a syringe. The needle isn’t inserted into the hole but it makes it easier to get a firm stream of water going into the hole. I think you’re doing fine. Does it feel like it’s filling up with pus? They’re always a bit swollen due to inflammation of the tissues.
 
Phew there was a bit of discharge on his skin this morning so I think it’s still open and working! He seems a bit brighter and definitely more sassy. Still not eating hay but he’s trying treats. Seems to be struggling with his mouth still, he will take a bit of cucumber chew it for a bit then spit it out again. I guess it must feel a little funny! Thanks all for your support so far.
 
Just caught up with this thread. You are doing amazingly well. Hope your piggy continues to improve. :)
 
Update : Flushing is a pain in the bum cos all he wants to do is eat the saline water 🤦🏻‍♀️ But some good bits of pus are coming out now. Also he eating grass and thin pieces of treats unassisted. Still no hay though, he turns his face up at it. Simon reckons if he can eat grass fine, he probably just doesn’t fancy it vs can’t eat it. I can shove strands of it into the back of his mouth and he will reluctantly eat it lol. Any ideas on how to make hay more appealing to him? He is a picky beggar when he’s healthy, so I’m not surprised he’s an even picky beggar now 😩
 
It sounds like you are going in the right directio, I wouldn't worry too much about the hay, let him build up his confidence eating and he will gradually go back to eating hay once that nasty abscess has healed up. grass is good and will substitute hay for no,w, it’s good he is actually eating little bits on his own x
 
Still not eating hay, but moved onto Emeraid and he loves it. Much easier to syringe him something he likes! He’s trying to eat hay and fluffers but just can’t, and his mouth doesn’t look like it’s moving properly. He gags a lot and doesn’t seem to want to chew on the side of his abscess.

It’s closing up a bit more now and starting to scab over, so we pick it off each day and open up again to drain.

How long does a procedure like this roughly take to heal / jaw feel less stiff @furryfriends (TEAS) ?

He’s also started limping on his back foot, which were not sure why. Painful squeaks when we touch it. Hoping we’ve not handled him too roughly whilst doing all of this 😭 feels like a step backwards. He’s on full strength metacam and antibiotics still so hopefully it’s just a strain.
 
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